Self storage investments aren't sexy. Most investors wrote them off for decades, with many of them not even considering self storage as true real estate. As more facilities were being built in the 1970s and 1980s, average investors looked down on self storage operators, seeing them as nothing more than owners of some concrete and metal. And who could blame them? Apartments, hotels, and other popular real estate ventures had proven track records, industry-specific technology, and a true “need” in the market. It wasn’t until after 2008 that this perception completely changed.

AJ Osborne, one of the largest self storage operators in the world, built his business at a time when no one wanted to touch self storage. But, as his portfolio grew and the industry turned around, more and more investors saw self storage for what it was: a low-risk, high-cash flow real estate investment. But now, with self storage hitting its all-time high in popularity, could the market slowly be getting saturated?

AJ has theories about who will and won’t get burnt over the next few years. His strong opinion on this industry is backed by a massive amount of expertise that few can rival. AJ, unlike many of his competitors, does NOT think that self storage is “recession-proof,” but he does still think that investing in this asset correctly, especially now, could be a game changer for any investor interested in a life of financial freedom.

In This Episode We Cover

AJ’s journey from insurance salesman to full-body paralysis and later self storage king

Why self storage is a misunderstood asset that most investors dismiss too easily

The explosion in self storage since 2008 and why Americans are storing more than ever before

Commercial financing and what banks want to see when buying a self storage facility

Whether or not institutional investors could own the entirety of the self storage industry in the near future

Location, lighting, design, and other aspects that make a facility high demand 

AJ’s advice for brand-new investors trying to get started in self storage investing

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

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BiggerPockets Podcast 286

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Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-50

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